Beyond the DAC: The welcome role of other providers of co-operation

Alongside the members of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), many other countries are providing large and growing volumes of development assistance. This brief sheds light on who they are and how much they are giving. It describes the principles that guide their co-operation and distinguish them from DAC donors.

Aside from not being members of the DAC, "other providers" have little in common as a group. This Issues Brief identifies three sub-groups with some common features: emerging donors, providers of South-South Co-operation and Arab donors.

How much development assistance do they provide?

In this Issues Brief, estimates of total net development assistance from other providers lie between USD 12 billion and 14 billion in 2008. Assuming that all of these flows were consistent with the definition of official development assistance (ODA), this would represent 9-10% of global ODA.

Shared goals and diverse approaches to development co-operation

While DAC donors and providers of South-South co-operation share similar goals, they approach development co-operation in different ways:

South-South co-operation emphasises the exchange of technical skills over the unilateral provision of aid

trade and investment -- and tied aid -- can be an integral component of South-South relationships

according to its providers, South-South co-operation does not come with policy conditions attached